Device and method for single-handed access and insertion of an article

1. An insertion apparatus for inserting an object into a body, comprising:

an elongated housing:

a piercing structure with a lumen, wherein the piercing structure extends distally from the housing;

a vacuum chamber within the elongated housing that communicates with the lumen of the piercing structure via a first channel;

a plunger configured to fit within the vacuum chamber;

a guidewire channel in the elongated housing that communicates with the lumen of the piercing structure;

a guide wire, a portion of which is disposed within a guide wire housing and another portion of which is disposed in the guidewire channel;

a guidewire housing connector disposed on an outer surface of the elongated housing and releasably holding the guidewire housing;

a first handle extending laterally from the housing in a first direction;

a second handle extending laterally from the housing in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction.

2. The insertion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the piercing structure is a needle.

3. The insertion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum chamber is integral with the elongated housing.

4. The insertion apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a piercing structure sheath coaxially disposed about the piercing structure, wherein the piercing structure sheath is configured slide along an outer surface of the piercing structure.

5. The insertion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum chamber is removable from the elongated housing.

6. The insertion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second handles each have at least one finger opening.

7. The insertion apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the plunger further comprises a grip configured to receive a thumb for retracting the plunger from the vacuum chamber.

8. The insertion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the guidewire housing connector is spaced apart from an entrance to the guidewire channel.

9. The insertion apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the elongated housing further comprises a guidewire protrusion disposed between the guidewire housing connector and the guidewire channel entrance.

10. The insertion apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a valve associated with the guidewire channel and configured to restrict flow of air through the guidewire channel.

11. The insertion apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongated housing further comprises a protrusion configured to allow a thumb to press the guidewire against the protrusion while advancing the guidewire through the guidewire channel.

12. A method of using the apparatus of claim 1 , comprising

gripping the first handle with a finger of a first hand;

gripping the second handle with another finger of the first hand;

sticking the piercing structure into the body while the apparatus is gripped by the first hand; and

moving the plunger with a thumb of the first hand while the apparatus is gripped by the first hand.

13. An insertion apparatus for inserting an object into a body, comprising:

an elongated housing;

a first gripping structure extending laterally from the elongated housing in a first direction and defining at least one opening that a finger of a first hand can grip;

a second gripping structure extending laterally from the elongated housing in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction and defining at least one opening that another finger of the first hand can grip;

a piercing structure with a lumen coupled to and extending distally from the elongated housing;

a vacuum chamber within the elongated housing that communicates with the lumen of the piercing structure;

a plunger sized to fit within the vacuum chamber, and having a grip configured to receive a thumb of the first hand to facilitate movement of the plunger;

a guidewire housing connector disposed on an outer surface of the elongated housing and removably holding a guidewire housing, the guidewire housing connector allowing the guidewire housing to be rotated within the guidewire housing connector toward either the first or the second gripping structures;

wherein the housing further comprises a first conduit through which the vacuum chamber communicates with the lumen of the piercing structure, a second conduit configured to receive a guidewire such that the guidewire can communicate with the lumen of the piercing structure; and

wherein the first and second handles and the grip of the plunger are structurally arranged on the elongated housing so that an operator of the insertion apparatus can grip the apparatus with the first hand to insert the piercing structure into the body and use the thumb of the first hand to move the plunger to create a vacuum in the piercing structure.

14. The insertion apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the elongated housing further comprises a protrusion on an outer surface to allow any one of four fingers, or the thumb of the first hand to press the guidewire against the protrusion while advancing the guidewire through the second conduit.

15. The insertion apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a valve associated with the second conduit and configured to restrict flow of air through the second conduit.

16. The insertion apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the valve is configured to provide a seal around the guidewire permitting passage of the guidewire through the second conduit and into the lumen of the piercing structure while restricting flow of air through the second conduit.

17. The insertion apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the guidewire housing can be rotated in the guidewire housing connector toward the first gripping structure for right handed operation of the insertion apparatus and rotated toward the second gripping structure for left-handed operation of the insertion apparatus.

18. The insertion apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the vacuum chamber is integral with the elongated housing.

19. A method of using the apparatus of claim 13 , comprising

inserting one of four fingers of the first hand into the at least one opening in the first gripping structure;

inserting another of the four fingers of the first hand into the at least one opening in the second gripping structure;

inserting the piercing structure into the body while the apparatus is gripped by the first hand;

moving the plunger with the thumb of the first hand to create the vacuum while the apparatus is gripped by the first hand; and

inserting the guidewire into the body with the first hand while the apparatus is gripped by the first hand.

20. A medical device, comprising:

an elongated housing having a first end and a second end, a vacuum chamber disposed between the first and second ends, and a plunger sized to fit within the vacuum chamber;

a plunger grip disposed on one end of the plunger and sized and shaped to receive a thumb of a first hand of a user of the medical device to facilitate movement of the plunger within the vacuum chamber;

first and second gripping structures disposed between the first and second ends of the elongated housing, and extending laterally from the elongated housing in opposite directions, the first and second gripping structures each defining at least one enclosed opening into which a finger of the first hand can be inserted to hold the medical device;

a needle with a lumen coupled to and extending distally from the first end of elongated housing, the lumen fluidly communicating with the vacuum chamber;

a guidewire channel disposed in the elongated housing and communicating with the lumen;

a guidewire housing connector disposed on the elongated housing adjacent the second end for retaining a guidewire housing;

a guidewire protrusion disposed on the elongated housing between the guidewire housing connector and the guidewire channel and providing tactile feedback to the user when moving a guidewire into or out of the guidewire channel; and

wherein the first and second gripping structures, the plunger grip, and the guidewire protrusion are structurally arranged relative to the elongated housing so that the user of the medical device can grip the medical device by the first and second gripping structures, stick the needle into a body, move the plunger to create a vacuum in the lumen, and insert the guidewire into the body, all solely with the first hand while the medical device is gripped by the first hand.

21. The medical device of claim 20 , wherein the guidewire housing connector allows the guidewire housing to be rotated toward the first gripping structure or toward the second gripping structure to facilitate left and right handed use of the medical device, respectively.

22. The medical device of claim 20 , further comprising a fluid seal in the guidewire channel through which the guidewire can pass.

23. A method of using the device of claim 20 , comprising:

inserting an index finger of a first hand into the at least one enclosed opening in the first gripping structure;

inserting a middle finger of the first hand into the at least one enclosed opening in the second gripping structure;

sticking the needle into the body while the medical device is gripped by the first hand;

inserting the thumb of the first hand into the plunger grip;

moving the plunger from the vacuum chamber; and

inserting the guidewire into the body with the first hand.